North Village 1 Jamaica 2

Premier Division leaders North Village were edged out 2-1 by Jamaica as the Caribbean side began their three match tour of Bermuda on the upswing.

Goals either side of the break from Wolry Wolfe and Khari Stephenson saw them to victory at the National Sports Centre yesterday.

The visitors did not have things all their way, though, as a late Village charge almost saw the home team come way with a share of the spoils.

With Jamaica seemingly in firm command of the proceedings, the home side were thrown a lifeline when second half substitute Keith Jennings was shoved in the penalty box five minutes from time. Big brother Kentoine took matters into his own hands and smashed his spot kick to the right of ‘keeper Allien Whittaker to give his team a faint glimmer of hope.

Had lady luck been on his side, Clay Smith would have capped a glorious fightback, but it wasn't to be his day as first he had a close-range shot frantically cleared off the goal line and then could only hold his head in disbelief as his curling left-footed shot from ten yards missed the mark by inches in the final minute.

Jamaica also had a few chances to put the match well beyond Village's reach but thanks to timely saves by second-half substitute ‘keeper Calvin Augustus, fine defensive play by Kentoine Jennings and some wayward shooting by Jamaica second half substitute Christopher Nicholas and goalscorer Stephenson, the home team did well to keep the score respectable.

“It just goes to show the discipline that is required when your opponents have the upper hand,” said Village coach Scott Morton following the match played before a crowd in excess of 2,500.

Playing down the defeat Morton went on: “We came out to enjoy the day and get a look at different players in different positions. So it was important that each player handled their responsibilities to the best of their ability.

“I give them one hundred percent based on their opponents.”

Jamaican skipper Omar Bailey was equally pleased with his team's performance.

“Overall the team did well in the first half and then we became a bit complacent,” he said. “I think that we will do better in the next match.”

Bailey said that the cooler local conditions did not effect a Jamaican side more accustomed to the warmer Caribbean climate.

“The conditions are very nice and allowed us to run a bit more because it's not like that back in Jamaica where it is much hotter. Here we can run more and do our best,” the senior national team player said.

Kicking off with the wind at their backs, Village took the match to their opponents from the off with Dwight (Payback) Warren managing to get on the end of a diagonal Kevin Jennings pass and send a wicked blast from an acute angle which almost grazed the bar.

Jamaica's Shane Stevens then did just enough to cut off Ralph Bean Jr. after Kentoine Jennings sent the former clear down the right flank with several of his team-mates anxiously awaiting the cross in the box.

With barely ten minutes gone on the clock, Village again threatened to score, this time after Michael Hansey, Warren and Bean all combined well deep in Jamaica's half. However, Warren saw his cross cut out by the visitor's defence.

Village's Marlon Dill then flirted with disaster when he appeared to shove Jamaica's Leon Strickland to the ground in his own penalty area during a quick raid.

Dill was not so lucky in the 26th minute though when he was injured challenging for a loose ball and had to be replaced by Randy Spence.

Shortly afterwards, Bean narrowly failed to get his head onto a Kevin Jennings cross at the far post as the home team desperately pressed forward in search of the breakthrough.

But it was Jamaica who took the lead in the 38th minute through some Wolfe wizardry.

Coming into possession deep down Village's middle, he took full advantage of a flat-footed Spence, dribbling five yards and rifling home a crisp drive that beat Dwayne (Streaker) Adams for pace at the near post.

Village immediately stormed back and were unfortunate not to have drawn level with their opponents when a Warren sizzler from 12 yards whistled just past the upright.

Leading at the break Jamaica appeared to be heading for a comfortable win when Stephenson capped off a fine move involving Roland Dean and Strickland just outside Village's 18 yard box in the 53rd minute.

But in the end they were fortunate not to have been punished for squandering several simple chances late in the match as second half subs Western Forrest and Nicholas' finishing touch evaded them.

This allowed Village to stay in the game and give their opponents more than their fair share of worries heading down the final stretch.

Jamaica now meet Devonshire Colts on Sunday at the National Sports Centre. Kick off is at 3 p.m.

North Village: D.Adams (C.Augustus, 62 mins), J.Boyles (M.Crane, 68 mins), M.Dill (R.Spence, 26 mins), Ken.Jennings, K.Dill, M.Hansey (C.Smith 57 mins), Kev.Jennings, D.Jennings, R.Bean, J.Jennings, D.Warren (Keith Jennings, 59 mins).

Jamaica: A.Whittaker, W.Ellis (C.Harvey, 60 mins), T.Sawyers, S.Stevens, O.Bailey, K.Harris (M.Bennett, 76 mins), E.Parkes (K.Stephenson, 45 mins), F.Dawkins, W.Wolfe, L.Strickland (C.Nicholas, 54 mins), R.Dean (W.Forrests, 76 mins).

Men of the match: Ken.Jennings (Village); O.Bailey (Jamaica).

Referee: Stuart Crockwell.